Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-13

coming 10 tue 1tue Creek tttt leu W tHS
boat.house OF Ladypriors. no dodged
under the chain that hung across as n
warning 10 rowing oarsmen, and present
" shot his skiff into the calm and quiet
retreat. where half dozen boats swayed
gently 10 and fro in the ripple caused by
the new arrival, while soft lights danced
upon the walls and the evening ra-
dance shone through the overhanging
foliage.
Soon light football caught Charles
Quick ears. "She IL coming, my own,
my sweet, he murmured, and he sprang
up the step to meet and clasp IN his arms
his sweet Cousin Dell.
"Oh, Charlie" she cried, brenthless
from the hearty salutations OF her adorer,
al am so glad TO see you again and VIC
torious, too
"Yes, I've scored pretty wall, Dell.
But the best news is this The weights
are ont for the Jubilee Stakes, and Way
land is in at six stone six"
ooh, the dear thing !" cried Dell en-
Enthusiastically. 81 am glad if it is any
thing good. But why is it good?"
"Why, it's just nothing to him in the
way OF weight" explained Charlie,
land his own lad George can ride him
without wasting, and it will be fine
thing for George if he wins, for it will
bring him into notice"
"And for you what IL will il do for
you, Charlie 2" asked Dell anxiously.
=" You are always thinking about other
people first, you dear boy"
ooh, it will do heap for me-" said
Charlie. "The stakes are five thousand
clear, and have ventured five hundred
on him at ten to one, which is another
! five thousand.
"You will win ten thousand pounds,
Charlie. Oh, L shall pray for Wayland
Smith"
"Dont," said Charlie, nervously
ait might not be lucky" He had
vein of superstition about him-that
youth-although not credulous in most
/ things.
"But, Charlie, what lot it will do for
| you |" continued Miss Richards.
"A heap" cried Charles. "Why, it
will clear off all the old scores and put
things straight. ! say, Dell, if win, |
( shall givo the old lady notice to quit and
come back to live at Ladypriors. Not
the young one, though, Dell. No, l
shall keep her"
delicious !" cried Dell, resigning
her mouth to be kissed. "But will it
ever come to pass ?"
81 expect not" said Charlie, with q
sigh. 81 don't think it's lucky to build
upon things. Tomorrow morning L
shall have a telegram from Snatfles
The Smith coughing and had blister,
or else, Hit his leg and pulled up lame.
/ believe those fellows keep stock OF
calamities on hand TO keep ones spirits
down.
at is trying" said Dell, sympatheti-
cally. But, Charlie, she continued
in a lowered voice, II have made dis
covery. You know that you gave me the
key Of your mothers ROOM"
This was the late Mrs. Lilburn's own
room that her husband could not bear to
enter after her death. He had locked
it up Just as she left it, and Charlie had
found the key among his possessions.
| The son did not like the idea Of leaving
the room all ghostly and untenanted, and
4 he had asked Dell to go there and burn
any papers that his mother might have
left and have the room busted and thrown
/ open.
al found key in aunts desk" said
Dell, producing a handsome key OF
antique workmanship. at had parch-
ment label attached, THE Crypt. ,"
Charlie looked puzzled. he had never
heard of the crypt; the word awoke no
associations in his mind. Miss Richards
went on to relate how, curiosity naturally
excited, she had made an excursion
among the cellars of LadypIiors, to see
if she could find any place locked up, or
generally any mysterious openings:
/ The cellars were famous brick-vaulted
apartments; but there was nothing an
swering to Dell's idea Of crypt. Then
she returned to her search in Mrs. Lii
burns room, and among some papers
she found a plan of the old Priory
that once stood i'll the ground. The plan
was evidently tracing from some an
cient original, and a more recent hand
had added the ground plan OF the house,
which had been built near the site.
red cross marked the situation OF the
| Priory church or chapel, and here might
be expected to be found the crypt. Dell
had puzzled out the matter till at last
the fixed upon likely spot for her re-
searches, and now she was proud to show
the result, and led the way toward door
in the old wall of masonry, whose
strength and solidity seemed to defy the
assaults of time.
Charlie laughed as Dell came to q
standstill before the door. "The old
Toulouse l know it well. ] used to
keep rabbits here"
lyon did not possess the spirit of
research, them" said Dell. For,
look !"
She pushed open panel at the further
end of the Toulouse, and there opened
out narrow passage which descended
not many feet in depth at the end OF
which was massive oaken door, model
led after an ancient fashion, but still evil
IDENTIFY of modern construction.
Charlie looked puzzled. :" don't re-
member this" he said
" Here is the door that fits the key,
said Dell. "Now, you are the master,
open l feared my fate and RETAINED. y
"This is business that had better be
kept till daylight, said Charles, q slight
/ Shudder coming over Dlin' ne uTtdueu
he knew not what. Might it be some
discovery that would dim the respect
and affection with which he cherished
his mothers memory? He hated mys-
terry and concealment, and here was a
matter in which she could hardly have
been thoroughly candid, for he was sure
that his father had known nothing of
such an opening. Dell also looked pale
and nervous, and was glad, in spite of
, her curiosity, that the opening of the
crypt was deferred.
The young people raced up to the
| house together to get rid of the chill !;
and Charlie, making his way unceremo-
niously through a French window into
the drawing-room, found himself I'M
expectedly in the presence Of rather
D large party of guests. These were mostly
? people of the neighborhood-but what
D was Paddock doing among them? He
/ was not surely the sort of man whose ac-
S quaintance Lady Richards. who was Sc
D we're aud even prudish in her social code.